An E-7 (Specific Activities) does not follow from a job offer. Immigration reviews the connection between the role and your education or experience, the salary offered, and the sponsoring employer's own eligibility. That is why the preparation has to start with HR the moment the hire is agreed.
Start with whether the occupation qualifies
Eligible roles can include researchers, engineers, designers, interpreters, translators and chefs, but the job has to appear in the Ministry of Justice classification. If it does not, nothing else about the offer rescues it.
A degree is not the only route
A bachelor's degree often helps, but some occupations accept an associate degree, a relevant license, or substantial work experience. What matters is that the major or the documented experience matches the actual duties in the contract. Some technical and culinary occupations carry extra qualification or experience rules.
Salary floors and employer-level hiring limits change by year and by occupation. Do not work from an older figure — check the current Ministry of Justice notice and HiKorea guidance at the time of filing.
Documents come from both sides
- The employer — business registration, an employment contract showing salary and conditions, company and financial information, a statement explaining why a foreign specialist is needed, and employee or social-insurance records
- The applicant — passport and photo, résumé, degree certificate or professional license, relevant employment certificates. A criminal-record certificate or health examination may be requested for certain roles or nationalities
- Overseas documents — translation, notarization or an apostille may be needed, so confirm the format before ordering anything
The usual sequence
Finalise the job and sponsorship, collect both sets of documents, apply for a Confirmation of Visa Issuance through the responsible immigration office, then obtain the visa at a Korean mission abroad or change status inside Korea where eligible, and complete foreign-resident registration after approval. The route varies with your current status and where you file.
What triggers a request for more evidence, or a refusal
A job title in the contract that does not match the actual duties, a degree or experience record in a different field, or an employer that cannot explain the need concretely. Matching matters more than volume.
Agree three things before you sign
- That the employer can sponsor an E-7
- Who prepares and pays for each document
- What happens to the employment agreement if immigration does not approve
Get those in writing. Verify the occupation code and current checklist through HiKorea; the Immigration Contact Center is on 1345. The full guide is on the WeBring blog.